Possible Causes of Seizures in Golden Hamsters

 

Over the course of its lifetime, some hamsters like the Golden hamster may experience seizure activity. If you own a Golden hamster you may want to talk to your vet about the possibility of seizures. Most hamsters will not present abrupt or strong outward symptoms like convulsions or fits. Instead, you may see your hamster tilting his head, walking in circles, having trouble walking, or falling on his back. If this occurs, call your vet right away. In most cases, a hamster may go into seizures of minor convulsions as a result of diabetes, brain injury, brain defects, poisoning, stroke, or even an inner ear infection. The inner ear, especially, is what helps control your hamster’s balance. If the inner ear is infected you will notice your hamster having extreme difficulty walking around. Click here to contact your animal hospital Marion, IA and learn more about possible seizure causes in hamsters like the Golden hamster.

Leash Walking With Your Dog

Owning a dog entails many responsibilities. Taking him for walks is one. But your dog has to be trained to go on walks with a leash on. This is an excellent training and also provides him with the necessary physical and mental stimulation. The sights, sound, and scents will do wonders to his senses. While your dog may enjoy the outdoors without a leash, and there are plenty of spaces that will allow him to do so, having a leash on means that you have control over his movements and behavior which can sometimes cause trouble to others. There are many types of leash in the market. A typical collar that goes around his neck and a body harness which fits his front body. It’s preferable to have the body harness since the pressure of pulling is distributed throughout his body as compared to a collar which can potentially damage his neck.

Your veterinarian Marion IA area is a valuable source of information about your pet’s health and/or behavior.

Snake handling basics

You have a snake in your life and you want to make sure you are able to look after her to the best of your ability. How should you be handling her?

Your snake is a solitary creature by nature and this means that she will likely shy away from being picked up on a regular basis. However, this is important for her to get used to as she will need to be held from time to time, like during veterinary visits or when her enclosure is being cleaned out. Get her used to interacting with you in this manner by taking the time to gradually introduce her to it in small doses. This will ease her into it by helping her get comfortable by your side and learn to trust you. For additional information, please contact your local vet Marion IA area.

Keeping your dog in your backyard

Your dog needs you to think about the ideal ways to keep her safe in your care and a big part of this will likely be trying to keep her within the security of your backyard. How can you keep her within this space?

Your dog needs you to give her reminders as to where your property ends. This will help her stay within its boundaries because she won’t forget where her personal space is. This may be a physical boundary, like a fence, that keeps her inside. It may also be repetition that teaches her to stay in this area and plenty of supervision to ensure she is following your guidelines. Make sure her needs are met and that she has plenty of activities to occupy her time within this area. For additional information, please contact your local vet clinic Marion, IA area

What To Do If Your Cat Eats String

Cats can develop a condition called pica which is characterized by eating non-edible things. The behavior can be triggered by a variety of reasons such as boredom, stress, or it can be an attention-seeking behavior. It can also be a play behavior or the cat simply finds the object tasty or smelling good.

When a cat eats a string or any similar to it, it is referred to as a linear foreign body. In most cases, the cat passes the string with the feces within 10-24 hours. However, there are instances when the string bunches up and binds as a result of the muscular contractions (called peristalsis) of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This can eventually lead to the intestines becoming blocked, pulled, or torn.

A cat that has ingested string that gets stuck in the GIT may exhibit the following symptoms:

l  Vomiting which can increase a cat’s risk to dehydration

l  Decreased or loss of appetite

l  Straining in an attempt to defecate or the cat may have diarrhea

l  Pain in the abdomen or belly

l  Depression or lethargy

l  Fever

If you saw your cat eating string, call your animal hospital Marion, IA to find out what course of action your should take.

Sudden Weight Loss In Cats

Sudden or explained weight loss in cats is not something to be taken lightly by cat owners. Identifying the underlying cause is very important so the problem can be addressed in an appropriate manner. There are many conditions that can cause rapid weight loss in cats; here are two of them:

Heavy parasite load

Gastrointestinal parasites can compete with the nutrients that a cat should have gotten from his daily diet. The heavier the parasite load, the more competition a cat has to valuable nutrients. Regular deworming can help ensure that cats are free from parasites and are able to utilize all the essential nutrients from their food intake. Always ask your vet Marion, IA for an effective deworming product that can be safely used for your pet.

Stress

Cats can be very sensitive to certain stressors in their environment. Chronic exposure can wreak havoc on their physical and emotional health.